ACTIVE RECREATION
Skiing
All famous ski resorts, mainly Sinaia, Busteni, Predeal and Poiana Brasov, are situated in the Carpathians. They have a nice background: cable cars, chairlifts and modern hotels. The ski slopes of Sinai are situated at an altitude of 400 do 2800 m, for elevation differences up to 585 m. Above, in the Bucegi mountains, by 8 km there is a cross-country ski trail, and next to it there is also a 13-turn bobsleigh run. He's in Poiana Brasov 20 km of ski and toboggan slopes of varying difficulty. Because the town is not on the route of the main railway connections, no wild crowds swarm there – it is visited mainly by avid skiers. Nevertheless, it is easy to get there by bus from Brasov.
The ski season runs from December to mid-March. In larger hotels you can rent equipment too 8-12 $ daily. The courses organized by the ski school last from four to six days, in groups of approx 12 people. There are also activities for children.
Mountain hiking
The Romanian Carpathians are a real attraction for mountain lovers. The most frequented trails lie in the Bucegi and Fagaras ranges (Fagaras), south and west of Brasov. Other popular mountain hiking areas include Retezat National Park, northwest of Tirgu Jiu; Surean Mountains, stretching between Alba Iulia and Tirgu Jiu; Apuseni band, southwest of Cluj; and the Ceahlau Massif, between Brasov and Suceava.
COURSES
Some Romanian universities organize two- or three-week cursuri de vara for foreigners (summer courses) Romanian language and culture. Tuition fees include 20 hours of classes per week, accommodation in a double room in a dormitory, meals in the student canteen, participation in cultural events and other attractions. There is also a program for beginners; Anyone who is seriously interested in Romanian culture is welcome, there are no age limits. Records – by letter or by fax – usually until the end of May.
OFFICE HOURS
Basic office hours on weekdays are 9.00.-13.00. Shops usually trade to 18.00, they are also open on Saturdays, in larger cities even until late. Almost all shops and markets are closed on Sundays, and most museums on Mondays. Theatrical performances and concerts usually start at 19.00. On Mondays and during the holiday season, most of the theaters are closed.
CHRISTMAS AND FESTIVALS
The public holidays are the New Year (1 i 2 I), Easter Monday, National Unity Day (1 XII) and Christmas (25, 26 i 27 XII). Orthodox Christians celebrate their holidays according to the Julian calendar.
In summer, numerous folk festivals take place in Pomerania, among others in Tulcea in August. Autumn is the time of musical events in Transylvania, among them the Cibinium festivals in Sibin and Cerbu de Aur in Brasov in September and the Musical Autumn in Cluj in October. In December, Bihor Culture Days are organized in Oradea. In Transylvania (in Sighisoara or Sibiu, depending on the arrangements in a given year) for several years, a medieval festival of youth happening has been organized in mid-September.
Smaller events are not sufficiently propagated, nor organized with tourists in mind. Thanks to this, they retain their original character, but it is harder to find out or get into them.